Trump's ambitious Easter truce plan for Ukraine under scrutiny
The administration of US President Donald Trump has informed European officials of its intention to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, as reported by Bloomberg on Sunday. This year, followers of the Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and Catholic faiths will celebrate the holiday on the same day - 20th April.
The agency notes that the US President is keen to take swift action to end the war in Ukraine. If a truce were to be agreed before 20th April, it would signify that it was achieved within the first 100 days of Trump's presidency. The hundredth day of his presidency falls on 1st May.
According to officials quoted by Bloomberg, the pace of the discussions starting at the beginning of the week in Saudi Arabia, involving top US and Russian officials, is ambitious and possibly unrealistic. One interviewee emphasised that "securing a document by the end of 2025 is much more likely".
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Putin is not seeking full control over Ukraine but aims to bring the conflict to a quick resolution, citing his discussion with the Russian leader. He also expressed his belief that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO.
Bloomberg reports that European officials are worried about the fast pace set by the U.S., fearing that without a promptly established plan for military aid, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky could be forced into a detrimental agreement.
These officials have announced that the European defence spending and support plan for Kyiv will not be revealed before the elections in Germany, set to take place on 23rd February. This decision aims to avoid controversy before the vote.
According to earlier reports from the British newspaper "Financial Times", Trump and Putin aim to secure a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia by Easter or by 9th May, when Russia will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany. One Ukrainian official quoted by the newspaper stated that the Russian leader would like to reach an agreement on a symbolic day.
Trump sceptical of Zelensky's warnings
The President assessed that he "does not believe at all" in the Ukrainian President's warnings that Putin intends to attack NATO in the future.
Speaking about the forthcoming talks between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, Trump assured that Ukraine would be included in the peace negotiations. He also mentioned that it is possible he might meet Putin in Riyadh "very soon".
Trump also commented on the potential trade war between the USA and the European Union. When asked about the EU's announced retaliation against planned US tariffs on EU goods, Trump remarked that it "does not matter", as Europe would be harming itself in the process.
